Blackburn v. Arsenal: Teams

Chance for vela to prove his worth of staying on next season.

Eduardo on the bench :-(

01 Robinson :))

Eduardo broke his toe earlier and just came back. Maybe that's why he's on the bench.

Who else would it be?! Rvp

Yep, Sami to Sagna to Robin.

How one dimensional are blackburn....long throws, long balls, long free kicks. A pain to watch.

delta force, did you expect anything else? its a Sam Allerdyce team

Blackburn's bogey man :)

10 goals in 9 against Blackburn for Robin...

Damn it.

Lol, Lou. Seriously, though. They are bringing people down too much. Fabianski doing well, I was about to say. We need more urgency. Damn!

We have to win. I'm afraid the team has forgotten how to win.

bentner, clichy and song are all injured

I think Fabianski is doing really well to be honest.

What a god awful "manager" Fat Sam is. I was sat watching and after 19 minutes I realised that I didn't recall Blackburn making any passes that didn't involve Robinson lumping the ball upfield or someone flicking on a long throw so I decided to count. And for the next 15 minutes they completed a grand total of 3 passes. That is ******** disgraceful. If a manager is so incompetant that his sole tactic is trying to bully a goalkeeper then he should be kicked out of football. The Allardyce apologists will claim that we only moan because it's an effective tactic, but the long and short of it is that Blackburn have the 2nd cheapest season tickets out of the entire 92 teams in England, yet they still barely fill thier stadium .... and I'm not ******** suprised if this is the ***** they serve up every week.

I think Fat Sam sits high up in the stands because thats where you get the best view of the ball.

i ******** hate Joe Royle - what a *****er.. he knows nothing about nothing, boring and so anti arsenal!! ***** him!

And I guess we have to wait until the utterly predictable 67th-70th minute for a fkg substitution.

Everything I hate about Sam Allardyce and Blackburn is showing up

Yep indeed Jaelle. Just saw AA remove his jacket on 66th. Yeah now he's coming on for ineffective Vela.

adios Carlos

THIS IS A ******** EMBARRASMENT - ***** OFF WENGER

We really are in deep ***** now.

Not a foul? Wtf was Pederson doing then?

Vela needs to be sold. Is not cut out for the P/L

Seriously, I can't find a single Blackburn player who I can say is likeable. What a bunch of ugly thugs.

Cmon Eduardo. All the best.

Now come on, gimme a break. These tactics have been used by Sam right from his Bolton days (crowding the gk) - dont tell me Arsene hasnt learnt from that. This is bull*****.

lame, weak, feeble, heartless, gutless *****

Dan_83, what club do you support?

With this line up of focused pros I didn't see this coming. (Sarcasm)

We need the midfield to do something special to craft out a chance or two, then hopefully RvP or AA or Eduardo will take it. I don't know what the stats are, but I rarely see Diaby doing something creative with the ball.

He supports Arsenal and surprise surprise he isn't happy at our limp display of passengers and our probable fourth consecutive defeat. What is he meant to do? Jump for joy?

he's a whinger, elbondo, and I'm probably just extra-bitchy today but our form since Barca has been shocking. This is pathetic stuff. We're being beaten by absolute c-r-a-p. There are teams in Brazil's Serie C that play better than this. There's no excuse for this *****e.

I can see even the most optimistic gooners wanting to throw things at this pathetic bunch. Ridiculous

maybe we'd show a bit or heart and fight if we has allerdyce.

haz allerdice? lululul

Well that's FT then. I'm confused about the standings now - Spurs can actually overtake us on 3rd place, can't they? Or not? We could actually finish 4th and have to deal with a CL qualifier right after a world cup.

Sorry, but there's just not excuse for any of that, none. Not injuries, not Bburn's thuggery and cynicism, none. It's inexcusable ****.

No, it's still in our own hands, if we win against Fulham we get third place.

The thing is, I don't feel anything, I'm numb. Now the Spuddies will burst onto this page. No matter what we discuss, it WILL be reduced to a crapfest with their lecture on how to play the game. In a perverse way, I'm glad we've now got one more completely unacceptable performance and result to really force the boss's hands in either having a go at the team and selling some of the players who don't have the fight and even the brain to realise what it takes to wear the shirt.

we need 1 point.... thats it - but we'll lost to fulham and have to hope spurs slip up. makes it even more embarrassing

Dan, calm down. Count to 10 and dont be such a drama queen.

I cant beleive we still havent secured third place. Is ******** pathetic. Dan is right, AW needs to wake up and smell the coffee. We aint gunna win ***** with clowns like Diaby, Silvestre and Fabianski playing for us. Rather than finishing as close as we can to Man Usa and the Chavs, we are now looking over our shoulder to make sure we dont get caught by the Lilywhite *****s. This should have been tied up a long time ago. Is ******** pathetic...

We need a draw against Fulham to guarantee 3rd place now. If Spurs win their next two games, they will be level on points but we will get 3rd on superior goal difference.

I don't think this will force Wengers hand, why would it? we are exactly as crap as we were last year, defensively we are worse and it didn't force his hand last year.

Cant believe we have gone from the Invincibles to this within 6 years. AW's project hasnt worked and its time he realised that and put an end to this...

Wyn, we need a draw (minimum) against Fulham not necessarily a win. In our current form no way we'll beat Fulham.

Yeah with all the money they ******** get, you would expect them to care and take some pride in their work, no but not these lot. We hardly have any fighters in this team.

come on Fulham....if we beat city all the pressure is on you guys on the final day

"We need a draw against Fulham to guarantee 3rd place now. If Spurs win their next two games, they will be level on points but we will get 3rd on superior goal difference." -- so delta, you see nothing to be dramatic about a club like ours having to say something so pathetic like that just to secure 3rd place in games against Wigan, Bburn and Fulham? dan is right to be dramatic, this is just unbelievable that we're in this position. We've won, what, 1 in 8 games? That's what we've been reduced to.

jaelle, I understand the gravity of the situation which is why I'm calculating points now. But please dont ask me to be dramatic like dan, its not something I do very well.

ok, ok, delta, fair enuf. I'm just a miserable bitch today, what with the weekend I've had, plus being so near to a damned terrorist plot (I was with family and friends in a hotel over the weekend right at Times Square), and then having to suffer thru a Blackburn game - which always make me miserable even when we win.

We are a team of ******** who hardly deserve European football. Players who act like superstars who have achieved nothing and who believe all the hype about 'playing the beautiful game' without the rough stuff. Barcelona should have shown Wenger the error of his ways, but he still seems to think he can take a team of talented but mentally weak kids up north and triumph.

DF, where has the fight gone? Why can't Wenger and Rice motivate their troops to put their bodies on the line? Blackburn have feck all to play for but chased like their lives depended on the result. We have an automatic european place up for grabs and half the team look as if they couldn't give a two hoots.

I am gutted, thought we could get a draw today and not have to worry bout spurs getting 3rd, but now ? could it be the one saving grace that fulham have to play a final in europe that they won't be going all out for a win and protecting their players ? god i really can't take the spuds coming here and gloating ! wenger must know he needs a big pot of cash for the summer

"Van Persie, Sagna and Eboue are the only players in that starting 11 that should be kept". Dan, excuse me if I'm wrong, but weren't you a firm Eboue opponent not too long ago. I'm not happy with the team either. They just haven't looked like caring recently, and need a severe talking to by Arsene, but as Eboue's demonstrated it's not so simple as sell one and buy a better one. If you look at the side, we should have everything we need to win the league, bar one more CB and a GK. The likes of Nasri, Diaby and Vela have shown enough glimpses to indicate that they could do well with a kick up the backside. I personally think Vela should be loaned somewhere where he has to fight for his place and appreciate what he's getting at Arsenal, perhaps follow Wilshere to Bolton. He won't enjoy playing with those thugs very much, but he doesn't need much technical improvement, he just needs to know how to get himself involved. Arsene could also do with using a young player such as Lansbury/Barazite/Wilshere next season, just to put him in the side ahead of Diaby/Nasri a few times to make them fight for their place. Some players will find developing passion for the club difficult, that's normal, but if that's the case we have to make sure they've got as much of an alternative incentive to work as possible.

Remember how we had a very awful first half at Anfield, then Wenger yelled at them in the dressing room in half time and we came out and beat the scousers? I wonder if the team needs more of that hair-drying stuff. But I wouldn't put it down to the manager entirely. Seriously, players like Nasri and Diaby are supposedly playing to get onto the plane to South Africa, and Theo just admitted as much at the weekend. The likes of Vela and Traore are supposedly fighting for their places in the team. If promoting young kids isn't the way to motivate the rest of the team. Maybe we should really sign someone established to create the level of competition required. Someone like Sol also adds the fire. Too many nice guys in general, too many players with indifferent attitude of late.

Thats the problem with this team. They let big defeats affect them too much psychologically and they just capitulate.

Wow that's a fresh angle Rob. But then hasn't the ability (especially technical one) always been there? I'm also glad that we seemed to have added the mental toughness to the toolbox pre-Barca. We were scoring all those late goals and turning games around. I guess we've seen that's the true colours of the likes of Song, Bendtner, Vermaelen and Sol. Cesc as we've always known is a fighter. Now we've got a much matured RvP. Clichy almost got back to his best. Sagna's better than earlier, with Eboue providing the competition/option required. We just need the likes of Diaby, Nasri, AA and Theo to show more urgency and less Mr-Nice-Guy-ness.

We're just a bit more defensive organisation and goalkeeping away from winning the title, I truly believe it. In the past couple of months, I've been thinking back to the contribution that Martin Keown made to our defensive performances during the great run to the CL final in 2006. And Lee Dixon said that none of the famous back four got invited to coach our team on defensive work. I rate Dixon as a pundit since his TV work and his BBC column on tactics show that he knows what he's talking about. Keown and Winterburn (though we see him a bit less these days) also talk sense especially when it comes to the defensive side of things. Maybe there's a great reservoir of expertise and experience untapped? Or maybe as you say we need a 'bad cop' in the coaching staff?

Yeah I've also thought we'd do well to re-employ Keown, Dixon, Winterburn. Keown would be my preffered choice. He could do both of the rules that you allude to. I don't particularly wan't a 'bad cop', just a prominent member of the coaching staff who commands respect and will tell it how it is. He doesn't need to get angry, but it would be good for a coach to take a personal interest in a handful of players' performances and really take it upon himself to motivate them. Arsene's got too much on his plate to do that to every individual that needs it in our squad. I feel he needs an assistant man-manager. This way players such as Arsh and Samir can remain highly focussed on keeping their good form, whilst maintaining positive relations with Arsene, and would also help them to appreciate the faith he shows in them.

Thanks Edy, but I think big-boned Tommy Huddlestone's already taken it. I hope it was just fish you put in that, because Sp*rs aren't used to end-of-season cock-ups.

Sam Allardyce admitted he was delighted to come out on top in the battle of wits against Wenger. "I'm not overly concerned about what Arsene says - he's said it before about my tactics. "But we know these tactics work against Arsenal and they've worked again today." "We play the game as managers, we look at each other and you see if you can find any weaknesses in the opposition manager as well as the team." Someone needs point out to Wenger that Allardyce is not only making his team look weak, he's also making our manager look like a right tool as well.

*earlier this year*

we will give you jenas for eduardo deal?

hm

I know what you mean spinaker, i keep hearing all this stuff about how they've got an amazingly talented team etc. But you look at them and apart from Cesc and RVP who are world class, the rest are the dopeist shower of *****e you've ever seen in your life!!! According to ArsenalRob they need 'motivating'. WTF!!!!

The dopiest shower of *****e you have ever seen in your life and yet they are still above you in the table with the 2 world class players missing for large parts of the season (RVP 6 months, Cesc 3 months) and walloped you 3-0 during the season......you couldn't make it up.

From Invincible to dry- wrincible in five short years. In Wenger we trust? OH, SO DO WE!!!! Bye.

Honestly Tony toy must have better things to do. Gallas & Vermalen are both world class, both are missing too. Arshavin is world class but has been injured for the last 4 months

The more I look at that second Blackburn goal the more ridiculous it looks. Flaphandski is unceremoniously bundled into his own net like a 5 year old. Campbell almost follows him meekly...arm raised in surrender. Half the Arsenal defence are standing around like limp flags. Meanwhile Dunn and Samba are rugby mauling their way into the goal. What an absolute shambles of a game.

It was a shamble of a game. But if you looked at the team that started Only Sagna, Van Persie & Nasri are probably from our best 11. Not looking for excuses but a back 5 including Fabiclownski, Traore and a CB duo with the combined age of 70(almost) together with season long losers such as Walcott, Vela & Eduardo was never going to be pretty.

What a joy to read the change in tone as you realise that Sam has done you again. You just don't get it do you? Are you thick or what? This is why you'll never win anything.

And while we are at it, you lankashire inbreads in Bolton have lost the last 8 to us. We get you, very well infact. I hope in Horwich you can still remember you 1958 FA cup, the clubs best ever achievment

Hahaha wenger! What a tool!

P.S - I think you need to buy a new keep - or two!

FriedelNo1, what a pity that you chose your username based on a player you couldn't keep. Friedel was quality and a bit too good for your club. Mid table mediocrity is what you aspire to, so I guess you must be happy with your season.

UJN, my reply was directed to Fno1. Respect begets respect and all that. Some of Blackburn's tactics like manhandling the opposition keeper on set pieces is despicable much like your manager but this is the EPL - this stuff is allowed. Dont grudge your win, you deserved it more than we did. Some of your fellow fans seem to have lost the plot in all the hysteria of the rare win though.

Dont remember putting 2 or 3 players on the keeper and punting up the field, but im sure you know better. I have nothing against your tactics, but dont talk shi*t

Deltaforce - I chose my name because Brad was my favourite player and best goal keeper in the Premier league - he left, but that doesn't mean I should change my name - (why did you pick yours? Is it because you like Chuck Norris?) And yes, compared to last season we have had a good season, we weren't in a relegation battle and we have got stronger and stronger towards the end of the season. Rovers have never aspired to mid-table mediocrity - but we have gone through a transistion period. Next season we will aspire to finish in the top ten and push for the cups. The question you really need to ask yourself is 'have Arsenal had a good season?' You have only taken 3 points off the top four, you may yet finish 4th and be below Spurs, you lost to Spurs, this is another season without an silver, - so really do you aspire to just qualifying in the champions league, play 50 odd games a season, and win nothing? FINALLY, Brad was an excellent keeper for us, he was probably our best and most consistent player when he was with us - and he's also better than any keeper you've got! And our current goal keeper is better than yours too!

FriedelNo1, we lost 2-1 to spurs at WHL. You have conveniently forgotten the 3-0 beating we gave them at home. Nobody on this board has claimed that Arsenal have had a successful season. By our standard we have not. By Rovers standard we would have. Its all relative. Mikey ignorance is a relative term and compared to most people in the country, you are ignorant. You are ignorant of your manager's despicable tactics, your desire for living on the very edge of the rules governing the game and general disregard of football as a beautiful sport. Nobody is demanding that you play beautiful football - because you cant. Anyway, all said and done you won the last game - to winners go the spoils so brag away. I for one cant wait for Allardyce to be sacked from your club - he pulls the entire image of your club down to his low level.

Well Deltaforce - starring Chuck Norris - you make some strange points: 1)you can't wait to see Big Fat Sam sacked as he's pulling the image of the club down - I think Wenger is more likely to leave his club first, he is stubborn in the fact that he fails to recognise that Arsenal need a much better keeper, and instead deflects this issue by blaming us! 2) Despicable tactics - come on matey (and by the way Mikey got it spot on) Arsenal players cheat by diving to try and win - yet rather than punishing them (as Sam did with our lad Olssen, Wenger appealed to get Eduardo off with his Celtic case! 3) I brought up the Spurs result, because you hadn't lost to them in ages, but now they are catching you up - you must be worried? 4) 'Ignorance is a relative term and compared to most people in the country, you are ignorant...' WTF do you realise how ironic and yes, ignorant that statement is?! Anyway Chuck, enjoy your last game of the season, and I hope you aren't too scared to look over your shoulder...